Cervical traction device



y 1962 L. JENSEN 3,033,198

CERVICAL TRACTION DEVICE Filed Oct. 8. 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 1 50 Z 4 5/ 2L 52 J 50 59 5/ 4 a LL JGGZ i 60 5 j Z0\ 5A. 56 55 INVENTOR LEE JE/VSE/Vy 1962 L. JENSEN 3,033,198

CERVICAL TRACTION DEVICE Filed Oct. 8. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /8 l9 6F/G. 7 20 6 L- 24 J INVENTOR LEE JENSEN HG- /0 MAME AGENT May 8, 1962 L.JENSEN CERVICAL TRACTION DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 8, 1957 FIG.

AGENT Patented May 8, 1962 3,033,198 CERVICAL TRACTION DEVICE LeeJensen, Hillside Place, Chattanooga, Tenn. Filed Oct. 8, 1957, Ser. No.688,975 9 Claims. (Cl. 128-05) This invention relates to cervicaltraction apparatus for use in treatment of patients with displacedcervical discs, Whip-lash, osteo-arthritis, narrowed spaces, shouldersyndromes, headaches, subluxations and other tension states.

The main object of the present invention is to provide intermittenttraction on the cerival spine by means of apparatus in which the forceof traction may be adjusted and maintained at such adjusted valueregardless of minor changes in the position of the patient.

A further object is to apply this traction force to the head of thepatient by means of a head halter attached to a line passed oversuitable pulleys and having a Weight platform hung on its other endadaptable to receive weights adding up to the required value of thetraction force, and to automatically raise the weight platform with itsweights by means of a timed lifter for intermittently relieving saidtraction force, in accordance with any desired timing cycle.

A further object is to adapt the use of the above apparatus to either achair, a bed or a table, in or on which the patient may be placed,respectively.

A further object is to provide a motor driven vertical rod to serve asthe lifter, and provide the weight platform with a hollow central lugextending upwardly therefrom and closed at the top to form a socket intowhich the vertical rod is adapted to reciprocate for cyclically raisingthe platform and relieving the traction force.

A further object is to drive said vertical rod hydraulically on itsupward or lifting stroke by means of a piston connected to the lower endof said rod and operating in a cylinder fed with hydraulic fluid forcedinto the bottom of the cylinder by a pump supplied with said fluid froma reservoir with which the bottom of the cylinder is connected by arestricted vent, and to drive said pump at intervals by means of saidmotor to raise said weight platform.

A further object is to provide a suitable head halter for the patienthaving a wide band portion passing under the rear of the head upwardlyover the top of the head and an adjustable chin strap detachablyattached to selected point on the sides of this band to distribute thetraction force to the jaws and the back of the neck, while at the sametime the wide band portion and the chin strap mutually prevent eachother from slipping off the corresponding head parts.

A further object is to mount the vertical rod and its operating andcontrol means assembled in an enclosure mounted on swivelled rollers,with the upper end of the vertical rod extending upwardly from the topof the enclosure, and an electric cord extending from the casing forplugging into a 110 v.-A.C. power supply line.

A further object is to include in the above portable unit, the rest ofthe equipment necessary for a complete cervical traction apparatusincluding the adjustable fitting hangers for the pulleys and harness,and a bumper fixture for setting the unit in position against the table,chair or bed in which the patient is to be treated.

Other and more specific objects will appear in the following detaileddescription of one form of the present invention, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general view of the apparatus as applied to a patient lyingin bed,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1,

' FIG. 3 is a further enlarged detail view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG.2,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of a pulley fitting mounted on thesupporting staff, and taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail plan view of the platform fitting attachedto a mattress board,

FIG. 6 is a side of the novel head hand applied to a patients head,

FIG. 7 is an elevational view in section of the enclosure on rollers anda loaded weight platform,

FIG. 8 is a plan view on a reduced scale taken on the line 8-8 of FIG.7,

FIG. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the pump motor and cyclingcontrol,

FIG. 10 is a partial elevational view showing the application of theapparatus to a table on which the patient may be placed for treatment,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modification of the device in whichthe pulley fixtures and a bumper bracket are made a part of the portableunit,

E16. 12 is a partial view of the lower portion of this unit, showing themounting of the upright fixture support in the bottom of the unit, and

FIG. 13 shows the improved form of head halter adjusted for minimum chinstrain.

The apparatus of the present invention includes a novel headband 11, anupright pole 12 with adjustable fittings clamped thereon adaptable forattachment to a chair (not shown) a bed frame 13 or a table 14, as thecase may require, for supporting pulleys 15 and/or 16 and 17 over whichthe line 18 from the top of the head band may be passed, down to thering 19 at the top of the weight holder 20, and the portable cycler 21.

The cycler is mounted on swivelled rollers 22 for easy movement into anydesired position where the vertical rod 23 will reciprocate in the guidesocket of the hollow central lug 24 extending upwardly from the centerof the platform 26 of the Weight holder 26. Disc Weights 25 of severaldenominations may be used to make up the desired traction force on theline 18 when the rod 23 is retracted to permit traction to be applied.The lug 24 has a hanger ring 19 at its top to which the line 18 is tiedso as to normally support the weight holder off the top of rod 23 whenthe rod is retracted, but within its reach to fully extended positionduring reciprocation, whereby the rod 23 will cyclically lift the weightholder to relieve the traction force. Weights 25 are radially slotted tofit around the lug 24, and may be provided with interfitting ridges andgrooves on their faces, with a corresponding ridge or groove on theplatform, to prevent accidental sliding of the weights off the weightholder.

The cycler comprises a piston 27 fixed to the lower end of the verticalrod 23 and operatively associated with the vertical cylinder 28 toprovide a hydraulic chamber 29 in the cylinder below the piston sealedoff by the sealing ring 30 on the periphery of the piston. This ring maybe of any pliable or somewhat flexible material resiliently held incontinuous contact against the cylinder wall.

A pump 31 supplies the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir 32 into thelower end of the cylinder 28 through a conduit 33, and is operatedthrough drive shaft 34 from the electric motor 35. The timer circuitcontrol box 36 may be mounted inside the box casing 37 which isremovably fitted over the entire assembly of the cycler, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, and has a bore in its top to fit over the rod 23, whichis the only exposed part of this assembly. The top of the box casing 37may be further provided with slots 38 or other openings directly overthe motor 35 to dissipate its heat by ventilation.

The timer circuit includes a clock motor 39 for operating a timer cam 40which may be designed to suit requirements. The form shown has fourlobes 41 for maintaining the timer switch 42 open to stop motor 35 forfive seconds and closed to operate motor 35 for seconds alternately aslong as power is supplied by turning the main control switch 43 to itson position. A bypass switch 44 is provided for by-passing the timerswitch 42 so as to operate the motor continuously, thus maintaining therod 23 in extended position to keep the traction force relieved.

The switches 43 and 44 may be positioned on the top of the box casing 37adjacent the control box 36. Switch 43 may be a common toggle switch,and switch 44 may be of the pull chain variety so that its pull chainmight be extended to within reach of the patient, whereby he couldrelieve himself from the traction force when necessary either fortemporary relief or until some weight adjustments might be made.

The circuit shown in FIG. 9 is merely schematic and the timer switchmight be used to operate a relay instead of carrying the power currentitself. Also a number of cams may be provided for selectively replacingcam for providing different timing cycles as may be desired.

The motor 35 is connected by cable 45 to the control box 36 by a plugconnection 46 so that the box casing with the control box 36 can beremoved for servicing or inspection. The power is supplied from theoutside through the cord 4-7 connected to the control box 36 at 48.

The top of the reservoir 32 may be provided with a filler neck 49,through which the hydraulic fluid may be replenished or drained, or aseparate drain plug might be provided in the bottom of the reservoir 32for easier draining.

The apparatus of the present invention includes a pole 12 with anassortment of fittings for adapting the cycler for use of the patientseated in a chair or lying in bed or on a table. Each fitting isprovided with a clamp portion 50 which may he slid over the pole andfixed thereon in the adjusted position of the fitting by tightening thehand knob 51.

The uppermost fitting is a clamp fitting 52 with clamp screw 53 having atubular member 54, forming a pulley tree, slidably adjustable therein ina transverse direction alongside the pole 12. Pulleys 16 and 17 aremounted at its ends for carrying the line 18 up from the patients headside of the pole to the outer side thereof where the weights are hung onthe weight holder 20 already described. The normal supply of weights mayconsist of four 10 lb. discs, one 5 lb. disc, two 2 lb. discs and a 1lb. disc which will be sufiicient to provide all normal tractionrequirements in increments of 1 lb. up to 50 lbs. The weight holderitself may be made of light metal weighing less than 1 1b.

The other pulley fitting may be simply an eye 55 to which to attach thepulley 15 for guiding the line 18 from the head band 11 in asubstantially horizontal direction over the pulley 15 and upwardly topulley 16. This fitting would obviously not be used in the event theapparatus were applied to a patient sitting in a chair.

The other fittings are for fixing the pole 12 firmly in place on thefloor. In the application to a bed, a platform fitting 56 may beattached to a board 57 held under the mattress 58 and another fittinghaving a hook portion 59 may be clamped over the head of the bed 13, tohold the pole 12 firmly in place.

In the application to a table the platform fitting 56 may be replaced bya bracket fitting 60 for attachment to the end of the table 14 as shownin FIG. 10. In this case the hook fitting 59 would not be necessary.

In all these applications, it should be noted that the patient hasfreedom of motion to turn his head as well as a limited freedom ofchange in his longitudinal position relative to the line 18 withoutaltering the traction force which is determined by the weight supportedby the weight holder during the period of the cycle in which the rod 23is retracted. He may even temporarily move his head far out of positionby pulling the line 18 to lift the weight holder way up to the pulley 17without adding to the traction force, when he wants to reach forsomething nearby, thus eliminating the necessity of having someone inattendance to reach for him.

The pull chain type of switch 44 furthermore enables him to cause therod 23 to stay in its uppermost position for as long as he wishes torelieve the traction force, should he require such relief in the absenceof an attendant, by having the chain extended to within his reach. Byrepeating the switch operation, he may again resume the cyclicapplication of the intermittent traction force treatment.

A latch fitting 61 may be interposed at the end of line 18 attached tohis head band ring 62 whereby he may readily change the amount of theline 18 passed through this fitting so as to make further adjustments ofthe elfective length of line 18 so as to stay within the range of thetraction stroke upon any extensive change in his longitudinal positionrelative thereto. Latch fitting 61 may be any type of quick releaseclamp sleeve means through which the end of the line 18 is passed.

Upon proper adjustment of the line 18, when the main switch 43 is turnedon the cycler unit operates the pump 31 to force the hydraulic fluidfrom the reservoir 32 into the bottom of cylinder 23 to promptly moverod 23 to its upper or extended position to lift the weight holder 20and relieve the tractive force, until the next lobe 4-1 on cam 40 opensswitch 42 to break the circuit of motor 35, when the weights 25 forcethe fiuid back through the pump, which normally provides enough leakageback into the reservoir 32 to bring the rod 23 down promptly until theline 18 again takes up the load of the weights. Thus the traction forceis again applied until the cam lobe 41 passes the switch 42 and allowsthe motor 35 to operate again.

It may be found desirable to add the force of a spring 63 placed betweenthe piston 27 and the top of cylinder 28 for facilitating the promptreturn of the rod 23 to its lower or retracted position, after the line18 becomes taut, assuring a complete separation of the rod 23 from theend of the socket in lug 24 to obtain the full traction load of theweight holder on the line 18.

The head band unit 11 is composed of a wide band portion 64 passingaround the back of the head and looped together over the top of the headwhere the ring 62 is provided for attachment to line 18 either directlyor through the clamp sleeve 61. A depressed chin sack portion 65 hasside straps 66 which are adjustably supported in buckles 67. One or moresnap buttons 63 are fixed to the sides of the wide band portion 64, thebuckles 67 being provided with snap fittings for selectively snappingeach buckle on one of these snap buttons. Thus the wide band portion andthe chin sack help to distribute the pressure of the traction force overa wide area and the entire lower head bone structure, and the sidestraps snapped to the wide band portion, keep the latter snugly inplace, preventing any tendency to slip off the back of the head duringthe intermittent application of the traction forces. This head band isnot obstructive to speech because movement of the lower jaw is notimpaired due to the location of the snap buttons in proximity to theaxis of the lower jaw hinge.

A modification of the portable unit is shown in FIG. 11, in which theupright 12' may be mounted with hanger 54 adjustably mounted thereon bymeans of the fittings 5t 51, 52 for the pulleys 16 and 17, one of whichmay be used as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. A bumper bar 70 adjustablymounted on upright 12' by means of fitting 71 similar to the otherclamps such as 50 for the hanger bar 54, may be suitably adjusted tobear against the bed frame 72 as shown in FIG. 13, to firmly set theunit against movement in response to tension forces on the line 18during traction operation.

The upright 12 may be supported rigidly in the unit by means of a flangefitting 73 fixed to the top of the box casing 37', and a pair of flangefittings 74 and 75 fixed to the floor 76 of this casing around acorresponding bore therein, through which the lower end of the upright12' is passed and fixed by a set screw 77. This unit is provided withswivelled rollers 22 at the corners, as in the form previouslydescribed, for easy rolling movement into any desired operating positionagainst the table, chair or bed in which the patient is to be treated.

The head halter 11 shown in FIG. 13 is adjusted for less chin strain byapplying the chin strap buckles to the lower snaps 68, thusconcentrating more of the traction through the back of the head, whichmay be desirable in some cases. In any event, the traction forces arewell distributed over a large area of the back of the head because ofthe wide head band 64 being Well padded, as e.g. by foam rubber or othersuitable padding. cup 65 may likewise be provided with suitable paddingmaterial to distribute any forces applied through the chin.

The hydraulically operated traction cycler herein described has beenfound exceptionally smooth and gentle in operation, easily adjustable toprovide the required traction force and time interval as may be requiredin different cases.

The special head halter fits any head size and is connected to the line18 by an easily adjustable rope tightener 61.

The simplicity of construction of this portable apparatus makes it veryeasy to build at reasonable cost a unit that is ready for use instantlyand adaptable to any situation for cervical traction treatment.

This unit may be similarly used for lumbar or low back traction, byadding more weights and substituting a lumbar belt for the head halter.

Many obvious modifications in the detail structure and arrangement ofparts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A traction apparatus for cervical traction cases oomprising anupright post adapted for fixing close to a traction patient, a pulleybracket mounted on said post and having at least one pulley, a linepassed over each pulley, an adjustable headband for the back of the neckof said patitnt and having a chin strap, said headband being attached toone end of said line, a platform freely suspended on the other end ofsaid line, weights equivalent to the desired tractive force placed onsaid platform, and motor driven hydraulic means for intermittentlylifting said platform to relieve said tractive force, said lifting meansbeing movable directly under said platform, and having a guide postslidable into a sleeve in said platform to prevent spilling saidweights.

2. Traction apparatus as defined in claim 1, said lifting meansincluding an automatic cyclic control means for operating said liftingmeans intermittently.

3. Traction apparatus as defined in claim 2, said automatic cycliccontrol means including an operating motor, and a control circuittherefor including a breaker switch The chin and a timer means forintermittently making and breaking said breaker switch for predeterminedperiods.

4. Traction apparatus as defined in claim 3, said lifting means furtherincluding a vertical cylinder and a piston operating therein, a pumpoperated by-said motor for forcing hydraulic fluid into the bottom ofsaid cylinder to raise said piston, and a piston rod fixed to the top ofsaid piston and supporting said guide post for raising said platform,said pump providing sufiicient leakage when stopped to assure promptrelease of the hydraulic fluid from the cylinder to lower the weightholder in response to the weight of said platforms and weights.

5. Traction apparatus as defined in claim 4, a compression springmounted on top of said piston for supplementing the downward force ofsaid weight on the piston rod and to assure positive withdrawal of saidpiston rod from supporting contact with said weight holder, when thepump is not operated.

6. Traction apparatus as defined in claim 5, said lifting means circuitincluding a manually operated by-pass switch connected across saidbreaker switch for disabling said breaker switch control and causingsaid piston rod to remain in raised position, said by-pass switch beingof the pull chain type having a chain long enough to place its endwithin reach of the patient to whom the apparatus might b applied.

7. A portable traction cycler comprising a casing mounted on swivelledrollers, a post mounted on said casing, at least one pulley adjustablymounted on said post, a halter for attachment to a portion of thepatients body, and fastened to a line passed over each pulley, the otherend of said line having a weight platform freely hanging over saidcasing, a reciprocating lifter post extending from the top of saideasing into a socket in the bottom of said weight platform and weightson said platform for providing the proper amount of traction through thehalter on the patient, and means in said casing for cyclicallyreciprocating said lifter post to raise said Weight platform and relievethe traction force intermittently for predetermined intervals.

8. A portable traction cycler as defined in claim 7, and an adjustablebumper attached to said pulley supporting post for setting against arigid portion of the support occupied by the patient, to steady thecycler against movement in response to the application of the tractionforces during treatment.

9. A portable traction cycler as defined in claim 8, said halter being ahead halter for use in cervical treatments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,783,080 Gimenez Nov. 25, 1930 2,633,125 Yellin Mar. 31, 1953 2,665,685Kaufman Jan. 12, 1954 2,740,399 Judovich Apr. 3, 1956 2,773,499 ZurNieden Dec. 11, 1956 2,796,061 Miller June 18, 1957 2,803,245 JudovichAug. 20, 1957 2,811,965 Richards Nov. 5, 1957 2,813,527 Cook Nov. 19,1957 2,837,085 Tong June 3, 1958 2,910,061 Rabjohn Oct. 27, 1959

